By gbayson heat



Dec. 31, 1929. v A. BELER Re. 17,544

' wasnuos'rn'rc VALVE" Original Filed April 5, 1923 Rearmed D... 31, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ADOLI BELEB, DECEASED, LATE OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, BY GRAYSON HEAT CONTROL, INCL, OF LYNWOOD, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGH THERMOSTATIC VALVE .Original No. 1,601,908, dated November 18, 1928, Serial No. 680,018, died April 5, 1928. reiuue filed August 10, 1929. Serial No. 884,917.

My invention relates to thermostatic valves and articularly to valves for controlling the supp y of gas or other heating agent to water heaters, furnaces and the like.

Gas burners are usually designed to operate most efliciently on a predetermined quantity of gas at a predeterminedfressure, and it has been found that greater uel economy is obtained with a device employing a thermally-controlled valveif the valve -is 'o ened and closed with a quick action, than if the valve is permitted to open and close slowly as the thermal-res onsive element is gradually heated or coole for, during such slow opening and closing movement of the valve, the burner is not operatin at its maximum efiiciency, due to gradual c anges in the quantity and pressure of the gas.

- above stated purpose.

One object of my invention is to provide a simple thermally-controlled valve mechanism wherein the fuel supply valve is actuated to open and to closed positions with a snap action in response to predetermined movements of the thermal-responsive element for the Another object of m invention is to rovizle a thermostatic va ve, having the a ove charactcristics,that may be applled to water heaters, furnaces, ovens and, n fact, any agparatus requiring temperature control of t e supply of a heating agent.

Another object of my invention is to provide a thermostatic valve wherein the mechanism for actuating the valve is of simple and durable construction and wherein the spring Inse to predetermined d wheg re ffgadjustments .nism shown in Fig. 1;

'13 (see Fig. The gas is provided with a restricted passage 14 that independently of the Application for may readily be made to vary the range ofthe I device or the temperatures at which the valve operates to open or close the as supply.

These and other objects, t at Wlll be made i a )parent throughout the further description 0 my invention, are attained by means of the apparatus hereinafter described, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

F i are 1 is a lon itudinal section through the -t ermostatic valve;

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 1;

Fig.- 3 is a top plan view of a fragment of I the valve casing showin the over-center, snap action spring employed Fig. 4 is a fragmental sectional view of a detail of the over-center s ring, and

Fig. 5 is an elevationa view of a water heater to which the improved thermostatic valve is applied.

in the valve mecha- I Referring to the drawin'gs, the apparatus includes a gas valve casing (Shaving a fluid supply chamber 7 and a fluid delivery chamber 8, the former being provided with a. threaded nipple 9 for receiving a union connection of the gas supply pipe 11 and the latter being provided with an internally threaded sleeve 1-2 for receivingv the as delivery ipe 1' ch b e ivery am er is controlled by a plug valve 15 by means of which the supply of gas to the gas chamber ma be manua ly controlled.

ommunication is established between the supply chamber 7 and the delivery chamber 8 by means of a port or passage 16 that'is surrounded by a'valve seat 17 that cooperates with a valve18 for closin the, 16. The valve ia-ggrmally yielding y hel in 0105 5d position by a helical spri cap 21 threaded into the casing 6,

The valvev18 is movedto open a floating valve stem or plunger 22 that as made in two sections, an upper section or part.

23 and a lower section or .part 24 that scopes, at its upper end, into a bore in the lower end of the section 23 and is slidably position 1 19 which enga es the valve and is supporte upon a remove le 'upper end 0 the stem section 23 is provided with a pair of adjustable nuts 28 and 29 between which a spacing sleeve 31 is clamped.

The lower end of the stem 22, constituted by the sections or parts 23 and 24, extends into a bore 32 of the valve 18and engages a threaded; adjustin screw 33 that is locked in adjusted positlonby a nut 34. Theadjusting screw regulates the degree of opening of the i valve as a result of the action of the over-center spring 27. When the spring 27 is retracted relative to the valve 18 the lower end of thepart 24 moves away from the screw 33 so that lost motion is afforded in the subsequent opening of the valve by the spring.

The upper end of the valve stem 22 is connected to a thermal-responsive element or lever 35 that is pivoted on a shaft 36 extending transversely of a protecting casing 37 that is secured to the valve casing by means of screws 38 that engage lugs 39 on the easings. The free end of the lever 35 is provided with a hole 41 through which the sleeve 31 freely operates and it will be seen that a lostmotion connection is provided by the sleeve 31 which separates the nuts 28 and 29. The free end of thelever 35 is normally urgedupwardly by a helical spring 42 and the tension of the spring may be varied .by adjustmentv of the threaded spring seat 43 that has threaded engagement withthe upper wall of the casing 6.

The over-center spring element 27 comprises a flat leaf spring in the form of a cross aving four radial wings 44 each having a notched end edge that fits within a slot 45 cut in each of four lugs 46 that are attached to, or integral with, the casing 6 and which are equidistantly spaced about the axis of the stem 22, as indicated in Fig; 3. Each lug is provided with an adjusting screw47 having a tapered end that engages the notched edge of the wings 44 andprevents rotary displacement of the spring. The sprin 27 by virtue of its four point su port is hel not only concentric with the va ve 18 but in a plane 'substantially parallel therewith.

The inclined surfaces of the ointed adjusting screws en age the ends oi the wings 44 and confine t em against radial expansion. It will be understood that, when the over-can ter spring 27 is properly adjusted, the wings 44 are bowed upwardly or downwardly, as indicated in Fig. 1, and that, when the stem 22 is-moved upwardly or downwardly, the central portion of the spring is displaced first, thus forming an 3 curve in the wings because they cannot expand radially. When the center of the spring passes a predetermined point or plane, the wings reverse'their position abruptly and move the stem either upwardly or downwardly with a snap action. Moving the screws inwardly against the ends of the wings 44 increases. the resistance to movement of the stem and increases the velocity of movement of the stem after it has moved the spring over center. It' will be seen,

upon a knife edge fulcrum 51 and which bears, at its other end, upon the lever 35 at a point nearthe shaft 36. The lever 49 is actuated b an adjustable pivot pin 52 that is threade into a metal plug 53 and locked thereto by a nut 54. The plug 53 is mounted for reciprocating movement within the end of a copper tube 55 that has threaded engage,

ment with the casing 37 and whichis closed at one end. A' porcelain rool'56 is disposed between the closed end of the tube 55 and the plug 53. The co-eflicient of expansion of the porcelain being less than that of the copper tube permits the pivot point to move toward the end of the tube in response to the pressure applied by the spring 42 through levers 35 and 49 and to thus permit the spring 19 to close the valve. Contraction of the tube 55 causes inward movement of the. pin 52 and consequent movement of the lever 35 against the. action of the spring 42 which results ultimately in opening movement of the valve 18.

The casing 37 is provided with a threaded extension 57 by means of which the thermostatic valve may be connected to awater or steam tank or pipe or to an oven or furnace, or other apparatus, the temperature of which it is desirable to control. As shown in Fig. 5, the device is connected to a water heater of the simple tank type wherein the vex ansion tube 55 extends into the tank 58. Thedblivery pipe 13 is connected to a gas burner 59 and the gas is lighted by a small pilot light 61 that burns continuously adjacent the burner. Assuming that the valve is closed and the over-center or off-center spring is bowed upwardly and the lever 35 is in engagement with the nut 28, as the water in the heater cools, the tube 55 contracts and causes the lever 35 to move into engagement with the nut 29. Subsequent movement of the lever will cause spring 27 will move the valve to full-open position with a snap action independent of movement of the lever 35. The spring 27 is stronger than the relatively weak spring 19 which serves onlyto close the valve 18 when permitted to do so b the upward movement of the stem 22. T e. adjustment screw 33 .regulates the distance that the stem may move the valve 18. The farther in the screw is adjusted, the greater will be the opening of the valve.

When the gas is allowed to flow to the burner 59, it is lighted by the pilot light 61. As the temperature of the water rises, the tube 55 expands and permits the relatively strong spring 42 to move the lever upward. At this time, however, the nut 28 is spaced from the lever and permits of a predetermined movement of the lever without effecting movement of the stem. \Vhen the lever 35 engages the nut 28, it begins to lift the stem and with it the center of the spring 27. The valve remains open, however, until the stem is moved and, when the spring 27 is moved over center, the stem will be moved away u p- Wardwith a snap action,permitting the spring 19 to close the valve with a snap action and to hold it closed.

The temperature range of the device may, therefore, be controlled by the amount of lostmotion permitted between the lever 35. and

' the nuts 28 and 29 and by the adjustment of the spring 27 to increase or'decrease the movement- 0f the stem required to move the center .of the spring over center or to cause it to reverse its position. It will be understood that the spring 42 is stronger than the spring 27 and may actuate it through the medium of the lever 35, and that the spring 27 is stronger than the spring'l9 and is capable of. forcing the valve open against the tension of the latter spring.

By reason of the several adjustments pro-' vided, the device is rendered applicable to a variety of appllications without substitution of parts and t e general construction is such asto readily enable inspection and repair.

While I have illustrated and described but one embodiment of my invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes, modifications, substitutions, additions and omissions may be made in the apparatus illustrated without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, as set forth in the a pended claims.

I c aim:

1. A thermostatic valve comprising a valve 1 for controlling the delivery of a heating agent, a spring for normally yieldingly clos ing the valve, a thermal-responsive means having a lost-motion connection to the said valve for actuating the valve, a spring for normally yieldingly retaining the thermal responsive means in retracted position, I and an over center spring for actuating the valve with a snap action in response to apredetermined movement of the thermal-responsivev ing having a fluid inlet chamber and a fluidv outlet chamber provided with a port establishing communication between the chambers, a valve for closingthe ort, a spring for yield; ingly moving the va ve to closed position, a stem for the valve having a lost motion connection thereto, a thermal-responsive means for actuating the stem, and an over center spring for moving the valve by means, of the stem to open position with a snap action in response to a predetermined movement of the thermal-responsive means.

3. In a thermostatic valvefthe combination with a valve for controlling delivery of a heating agent, yielding means for normally moving thevalve to closed position, and a thermal-responsive means, of a stem controlled by the thermal-responsive means for moving the valveto open position, and an elf-- ing, a valve therein to be operated, spring means on one side of the valve approximately concentric therewith, normally urging the same toward closed position, a snap action over-center element of spring material on the other side of the valve approximately concentric therewith and arranged to cause the opening of said valve against the action of said spring means, means between the overcenter element'and saidvalve and substantially coaxial therewith for communicating opening movement to said valve, thermal-responsive means, and means behind said over-center element and substantially coaxial therewith for forcing the same over dead-center in response to a predetermined movement of the thermalresponsive means.

5. A thermostatic device comprising a casing, a valve therein to be operated, spring means on one side of the valve approximately concentric therewith normally urging the same toward closed over-center element 0 spring material on the other side of the valve approximately concentric therewith and arranged toca'use the opening of said valve against the action of said spring means, means between the over-center element and said valve and substantially coaxial therewith for communicating opening movement to said valve, a guide for said last position, a snap action mentioned means permitting reciprocatory movement thereof, the said guide cooperating with said means intermediate the ends thereof and servin to hold the same coaxial with the valve and over center element and the said means having lost motion operating connection at one end with one of the two elements just mentioned, thermal-responsivemeans, and means behind the over-center element and substantially coaxial therewlth for forcing the same over-dead-center 1n response a to a predetermined movement of the thermill-responsive means.

6. A thermostatic device comprising a casing, a valve therein to be operated, spring means on one side of the valve approximately concentric therewith normally urging the same toward closed position, a snap action over-center element of spring material on the other side of the valve approximately concentric therewith and arranged to cause the opening of said valve against the action of said springmeans, means between the overcenter element and said valve and substantially coaxial therewith for communicating opening movement to said-valve, a thermalresponsive member, means behind said overcenter element and substantially coaxial therewith for forcing the same over deadcenter in response to a predetermined movement of the thermal-responsive member, and

means roviding an adjustable lost motion at one en of at least one of the last two mentioned means. i

7 A thermostatic device comprising a casing, a valve therein to be operated, spring means on one side of the valve approximately. concentric therewith normally urging the same toward closed position, a snap action the last two mentioned means.

' 8. A thermostatic device comprising a casing, a valve therein to be operated, spring means on one side of the valve approximately concentric therewith normally urging the same toward closed'position, a snap action over-center element of spring material on the other sideof and approximately concentric with said valve and hearing by the ed e thereof in said casing at enough points ra iallyof the center of said'element to support the same on a plane parallel with the valve, said element having suflicint power when forced one way over dead-center to cause abrupt opening of said valve against the action of said spring means but being otherwise maintained under spring tension tending to force the same the other way over dead-center to retracted, position relative to the valve, means between the valve and the element and substantially coaxial therewith for communicating ment from the center of said element to said valve, thermal-responsive means, and means behind the over-center element and substantially coaxial therewith'for forcing the same over dead-center in response to a pre'deter mined movement of the thermal-responsive means;

9. Athermostatic device comprising a casing, a valve therein to be operated, spring means on one side of the valve approximate ly concentric therewith normally urging the same toward closed osition, a snap action over-center element oi spring material on the other side of the valve approximately concentric therewith and arranged to cause the opening of said valve against the action of said spring means, a guide betweenthe overcenter element and the valve and coaxialtherewith, a valve stem separate from the.

valve and 'reciprocable in said guide for communicating opening movement to the valve when the over-center element is forced over dead center, said tem havin lost motion operating connection with said valve whereby it will not commence to open the valve in the initial movement of the over-center element prior to its reaching dead center, thermal-responsive means, and means behind the over-center element and substantially coaxial therewith for forcing the same over dead center in response ton predetermined movement of the thermal-responsive means.

10. A thermostatic device comprising a casing, a valve therein to be operated, spring means on one side of the valve approximately concentric therewith normally urging the same toward closed position, a snap action over center element of spring material on the other side of the valve approximately concentric therewith and arranged to cause the opening of. said valve against the action of said' spring means, a guide between the valve and over-center element and coaxial therewith," a valve stem separate from the valve reciprocable in said guide operable at one end by the over-center element and having the other end fitting loosely in a central axial recess provided in the valve, whereby the valve is free to take its own seat in closing and the stem serves to hold the valve approxi-' mately centered, the said stem having lost motion operating connection with the valve in said recess so that it will not commenceto open the valve in the initial movement of the ovencenter element prior to its reaching dead center, thermal-responsive means,

moveand means behind the over-center element and substantially coaxial therewith for forcing the same over dead center in response to a predetermined'movement of the thermalresponsive means: a

11. A thermostatic device comprising a casing, a valve therein to be operated, spring means on one side of the valve approximately concentric therewith normally urging the same toward closed position, a snap action over-center element 0 spring material on the other side of the valve approximately concentric therewith, thermal-responsive means, and means between the thermal-responsive means and the valve and having lost motion operating connection with the'latter for communicatmg abrupt opening movement to the valve against the action 0 its spring means through the medium of said over-center element, said means comprising only two parts both coaxial with the valve and over-center element, the one part engaging one side of the over-center element and 0 rated by the thermal-responsive means to orce the overcenter element past dead center in response to a predetermined movement of the thermalresponsive means, and-the other part being disposed onvthe other side of the over-center element and being arranged when the overso centerelement is snapped over dead center to communicate abrupt opening movement to the valve. a

In witness whereof, your petitioner has hereto afiixed its si ature.

.ADO BEL, Deceased,

By GRAYSOII HEAT CONTROL 1N0,

' p I Am.

By JOHN ll. GRAYSON,

Freedom. 

